Editorial: Tribal gaming not good for Michigan

Thursday, August 7, 2008  

"In the raw economic numbers that the Potawatomi Indians are happy to trumpet, the casino that will open next year should be a gift to this region. Fifteen-hundred employees and $300 million in new investment, at a site between Marshall and Battle Creek, should make an impact.

But is this the kind of economic development that Michigan residents should want? We say no.

The Firekeepers Casino will be the 22nd casino in Michigan, according to the state's tourism bureau. Several have opened just this decade, while others — including a hard-fought Gun Lake tribal casino — still hope to get in on the action.

And for all of this activity, do we see a more robust state economy? Of course not. If anything, there are signs that Michigan is starting to experience a gambling glut. In time, that should just make the market more difficult for new competitors, including horse tracks."

Get the Story:
Editorial: More casinos lead to gambling glut (The Jackson Citizen Patriot 8/7)